Annual students' art works hanging around Town Hall

Brookfield's annual Student Art Show - with art works from Brookfield students in kindergarten through grade 12 - is hanging at Town Hall through May 12.

"The purpose of the show is to show the progress of our (art) curriculum throughout the grades. We display all different projects, subject matter and a variety of different art forms," said
Marianne Zelno
,
Center School Elementary

art teacher.

The show is a team effort by all the district's art teachers. "This is our ninth year and we've grown tremendously," Zelno said.

Many students come to see their artwork, along with that of their friends, because they do not know in advance which pieces will be on display.

Due to limited space, not every student's work is displayed in Town Hall. Some are displayed in their schools.

"It's not just about picking the best work. Everyone gets a chance. I have about 200 pieces of art hanging up here from my students, which would only be about half of my students," Zelno said.

Center School first-grader
Lily Ostrum
, 6, came to the opening with her mother to see the art.

"I like his paintings because they have lots of swirls and bright colors. An artist can use their imagination," said Lily.

Whisconier Middle School students made papier-mache sculptures of animals - kangaroos, pigs, squirrels, bears and rabbits.

Seventh-graders also were given a real-world situation and asked to develop a unique game board based on it without infringing on any copywrights.

Students were assigned to teams and had to create a game playable by four to six people, develop a strategy and write specific rules. Some of the results were hung on the walls.

Brookfield High School
art teacher
Rachel Agati
had her ceramics students make clay masks. One class created masks to represent the human face, while another class was asked to create masks that reflected their cultural heritage.

"They could choose one culture or more than one culture of their choice and incorporate that into their masks. They all did a really nice job and were excited with the results," Agati said.

Freshman Marise Cornelius created an earth-colored mask with an elephant on one side and a hut with a thatched roof at the top, depicting impressions of her childhood in South Africa.

Although Haynie had given the painting to Giannini as a gift, Giannini loaned it to her to put on display.

Haynie, who said she has "always loved art and taken classes all my life," was given the Rotary Club's student of the month award in March. "Ms. Agati recommended me for it. I was very honored," Haynie said.

Whisconier Middle School principal
Genie Slone
was quite impressed with the quality of the students' work.

"Every year is better than the last. I especially enjoy seeing the high school kids' work. I remember a lot of these kids from when they were little, and it's wonderful to see how much they have progressed," Slone said.

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The public can view the artwork during regular Town Hall office hours - Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. - through May 12.